148 Bird - Lore 



the birds. This nest was built of the fine sprays of hemlock, showing the 

 effect of environment upon the nest material. 



There must have been a sociable trait in the pair of Robins that built on 

 the support to the roof over the station platform at Wilton, Conn. The 

 hurrying passengers and the thundering trains did not disturb the sitting bird 

 in the least. One could see her tail over the edge of the nest when on the 

 platform. 



It seems sure that birds come to know certain people, or to lose their fear 

 instinct when these people are about their regular duties. How else can one 



BLACKSMITH SHOP WHERE A PAIR OF ROBINS RAISED THEIR FAMILY WITHIN 



RANGE OF THE SPARKS FROM THE ANVIL 



Note the missing window-pane, removed to permit the birds to enter when the door was closed 



interpret the actions of a pair of Robins that built their nest over the door of 

 the Bangall school. The teacher could stand on the porch and ring the hand- 

 bell and the children pass in and out through the door many times a day with- 

 out the birds leaving the nest, but they resented my simply standing and 

 looking, and as for taking a photograph, it sent the old birds into a frenzy. 

 Stranger still was the fancy of a pair of Robins that built their nest inside 

 of Seymour's blacksmith shop on some iron used to re-tire wheels, and within 

 eight feet of the anvil before which the blacksmith worked most of the day. 

 The noise of pounding on iron, flying sparks, and kicking horses while being 

 shod — all was accepted and her eggs hatched and young raised. Let a stranger 



